Bean harvester



June 7, 1932. w. F. LoNBEcK BEAN HARVESTER Filed Nov. 28,1950 6 sheets-sheet 1 q www@ Allorney June 7, 1932. I

BEAN HRVESTER` Filed Nov. 28, 1930 6 sheets-sheet :s

U um AWN XN Am* l A llame y W. F. L .ONBECK BEAN HARVESTER June 7, 1932.

Filed NOV- 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Wglfwm Z. Zaneck A llomey Ju'ne 7, 1932.

w. F. LQNBECK BEAN HARVESTER Filed Nov. 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 By @ww/@fbg A Home y June 7,1932. l IW* F]- LONBECK 1,862,226

BEAN HARVESTER Filed Nov. 2,8, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 By Y A Home y Patented June 7, 1932 wILLiAM-rrtnn Lonisnci; or Bosnia, COLORADO .BEAN `HARVESTER i Application fue@ November as, 1930. V serial Np. r498,801.`

This invention relates `generally to agri-v cultural implements or machines and more particularly to new and useful improvements in bean harvesters, but it is under,` stood,.of course, that amachine 'in accord-V ance with this invention may be used for harvesting any kind of crops for which the same may be found adapted and desirable.

An important object ,of the linvention is to provide, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, aV machine of the aforementioned character for attachment to, a tractor orlother draft vehicle and which is adapted to harvest a plurality of rows simultaneously, the machine further including a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby but vtwo operators will be required, one vforvthe tractor'or other draft vehicle and one for the machine constituting' this invention.

Another important object of'A the invention is to providean agricultural machine of the character described embodying means for cutting the bean stalks comparatively close to-the ground and which further includes means for manually adjusting the cutting knives to the desired elevation relav tive to the ground.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a `bean harvester vof the character set forth which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, eli'cient and reliable in oper.- ation andA which may be manufactured at l-o'w cost. Y

All of the foregoing and still further obing specification, taken in `connection with the accompanying drawings wherein'v like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several view s, and wherein y y Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a bean harvester constructed in accordance with-.this invention.

Figure 2 machine.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional YView through the frame of the machine showing, in front elevation, the cutting units. Y

Figure 4 is a View in rear elevation show-l is a View in side elevation of the jects and advantages of the invention may become apparent from a study of the follow- Y ing .the reel supportingl and driving means 1 Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line'g5-5 of Figure 4. A

Figure 6 is a detail view in top plan of one ef the cutting units. f

. Figure 7 is a detail View in vertical longi-v tudinal section throughone ofthe cutting units showing the means for adjustably sup porting the same and the manually operable means for independently adjusting each cut-A ting unit, taken substantiallyV on the line 7`-7 ofFigure 2. H v` v. y Y vvFigure 8 is a detail'view intop plan showQ- Y. i ing one of the cutter supporting plates.`

Figure 9 is a detail view in top plan show` ing one of the toothed annular knives. Y Figure 10 is a detail view vprincipally in vertical section on the line l0-#1Q of Figure -7 showing one of the guard supporting posts. Figure l1 is a detail view in top plan showing one of the guard supporting posts rwith the guard fingers mounted thereon.'

Figure 12 is a detail view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 12-12` of Figure 1. r v

Figure 13 is a detail view in verticalv sec-` tion showing the means for operatively connecting the supporting wheels .tothe rotata'- ,j ble aXle of the machine.V .Figure 14 is a detail view principallyin longitudinal section through o ne of the double beveled gears. Y l F`gure 15 is a detail perspective View showing the device for raisingv the cutting units simultaneously. l

`Figure 16 is a detail viewyin side elevation showing the manually operable means for raising thecutting units simultaneously. Figure 1'?V is a det-ail viewin perspective `of one of the arms for raising the cutting units 90 simultaneously. j Y l Figure 18 is a detailview in perspective showing the lcrank rod' constituting one lof the elements for raising the cutting `units simultaneously to which' the actuating lever '95 is fixed.4 l Figure 19 is a detail View in cross section through the main elevator or vconveyor taken C substantially on the line 19'-19 of Figure 1.V

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view in vertilo.,

cal longitudinal section taken substantially on the line -20 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow .and showing the drive means in broken lines or the main elevator or conveyor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates generally a frame which includes ythe .longitudinal side members 2 andthe rearwardly converging portions 3. Forwardly convergingrbars 4 are'secured to the forward Vend portionsv of the'longitudinalsideinemf bers of the frame and pivotally mounted for.`

swinging movement on the connected for# ward end portions of the bars 4 :is a draw bar v 5 for connection with a tractor or other draft implement.r A toothed segment 6 is provided on the rear end of the draw bar 5`and'is operatively engagedY by a crank. operated gear 7 for adjustingthej draw bar 5 .relative to the frame 1. Any suitable latch'ing means maybe-provided lfor securing the/gear 7 against rotation and for maintaining the .drawbar in adjusted position. 1

.An axle 8 is journaled transversely Vin the frame 1 andlias' mounted on its end portions other of said wheels when the-machine is turning afcorner.

. A supportingv structure designated generally bythe reference numeral 13. (see Figure 2) is mounted on the forward portion of theA frame l'and comprisestheuprights 14 and braces 15. The supporting structure 14 fur'- ther includes the spaced, parallel cross niembers 16 and 17 and the longitudinal end mem'-` bers 18. Spaced.y Vlongitudinally Vextending bars 19 extend between the cross members 16 .and 17 of the supporting structure 13.V y

A conveyor drive shaft 2O is mounted transversely on theframe-lforwardly ofthe axle 8 and yhas its end portions vjournaled in suitable bearings 21 on the side members 2 of thev frame 1. The conveyor drive shaft 20' is operatively connected'to theaxle' .8 for actuation thereby by a chain and sprocket connection 22..y An operators platform 23V is also Y mounted transversely on the frame 1 between the supporting structure 13 and the conveiyoidrive shaftY 20.

jr-Pairs of arms 24 are mounted for swinging ymovement ina vertical plane on the conveyor drive shaft 20 and extend forwardly and downwardly therefrom beneath the opera# tors platform 23. Rigidly secured on the for-v ward end portions of each pair of the arms 24 is a metallic plate 25 which extends forwardly beneath thesupporting structure 13. Each of the plates 25 has formed'therein a llongitudinally extending slotk 26 (see Figures 7 and 8) for theipassage'of a rod 27haviiig a plate supporting head 28 on its lower end 1 and having its upper end operatively` connectedV to a ni'anually'op-erable bell crank'lever 29 which is mounted for swinging movementron 4the platform 23-through themedium of a link 30.v Eachof the bell crank levers 29 is if' lprovided with. a suitable keeper 31 vfor engagement with a toothed sregment32 mounted 'on the platform 23 forfmaintaining'the levers 29 in adjusted position. Each'of the plates v25 is further provided with a'ppair-of holes 33 VVforwardly kof theslot 26=for the passage of' suitable securing-elements .for rigidly mounting av forwardly and Aupwardly extending A bracket'34 -in position ontlie plate 25. jTheA brackets 34 are provided withivertically disl .posed bearings 35-o`n their'horizontally disposedrupper.portions in which arejournaled the reduced upperend portions of castings 36`having annular` fiangesfon theirl lower ends to the lower sides of which flanges are secured the annulartoothed cutters 37, one of which is illustiatedin detail byFigure 9 ofthe drawings. The cutters-37 rest onthe plates 25. The lcastings 36- are provided with vertical,

centrally disposedJ polygonal-bores for' slidably receiving a polygonal vshaft section 38 andthe plates 25 areeach providedl with an opening 29 `in vertical alignment with the bores in the castings 36 for the passage Aof the shaft sections 38vwhen the plates 25are swung upwardly. The driving means'for the'shaft sections '38 will be presently described. A

finger plate 40 of comparatively hard metal is rigidly mounted on the forward end portion of each of the plates 25 andprojectsffcrwardly therefrom. i Each of the plates 2:5 is still further pro.'-` vided with'a hole 41 for receiving the reduced lower end portion of van upstanding post 42.

The reduced lower en'd portion of the post 42 .Qi-

is threaded into the hole 41, as bestseen in Figl ure 10of the drawings; Each-of the post`s'42 is provided with av series of-vertically' spaced openings for the reception of the rear end portions of the guards 43 having curved forward end portions 44 disposed forwardly of the `castings 36. into the posts 42 foi-,engagement withl the guards 43 for'adjustably securing said guards 43 in adjusted position on the posts 42. As j gli Set screws 45 are threaded` best seenin Figure 7 ofthe drawings, the

guards 43 which are associated with each of the castings 36 are stepped rearwardly from the uppermost thereoffto the lowermost thereof to permit the lower portions ofthe bean gf.

'11.; tion.,'

extends vbeneath, the intermediate portionsy stalks to-pass. between the fingers of the members 140 for engagement by the teeth ofthe cutters 37 while putting the upper `portions of the bean stalks away from thecutting mecha'- nism.V j In Figure 7 of the drawings, the reference numeral ,46 designates y transverse bars which extend between the uprights 14 of the supporting structure 13, saidbars 46 constituting a part of the supporting structure. The cutting units are designated generally by Vthe reference numeral/47. j l Y A As before stated, each of the cutting units 47 is adapted to be elevated independently of the othercutting units through the medium of the levers 29`mountedon the platform 23. For elevatingor adjusting the cutting units 47 simultaneouslyand uniformly a mechanism Yis provided which includes a Ipair of Vlongitudinally Y extending angular` arms 48 which are pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the end portions of the conveyor drive shaft adjacent the inner vsides of the longitudinal members 2-of the fra-me. 1. A- transversely extending, substantially V U- shaped hanger 49 extends beneath the plates for engagementwith said plates and has its ends pivotally connected to the-free end .portions of-theang-ular arms 48. The angular arms 48 rest on a crank 50 which is disposed transversely of the frainel andis provvided with the trunnions 5l (see Figurel8) which are journaled in the side members 2 `of the frame l. O neof the trunnions- 5l Vprojects laterally from the adjacent side i members 2 of the frame 1 and has fixed thereon an actuating lever 52 having a. conventional latch 53 thereon for engagement with a toothed segment 54 mounted on the frame 1 for retaining the lever 52 in adjusted'posi-` As will be seen the crank `5() of the arms 48. By rocking the crank through the medium `of the lever 52, the arms .48 will be swung in avertical plane to raise and lower the cutting units 47 simultaneously through the mediumv of the hanger49.

A transverse shaft 55 ofpolygonal cross section has its end portions journaled in suitable bearings 56-on the forward end portions of the. longitudinal members 18 ofthe supporting structure `13. v"llransversely aligned bearings 57 are mounted 'on'the longitudinal members 19 of the supporting structure 13 and journaled for rotationrin the bearings57 are the double beveled gears which, asillus trated to advantage in Figure 14' of the drawings, are designated generally bythe reference numeral 58 and comprise a sleeve 59 having a polygonal bore 60 extending longitudinally,therethroughf and further having the gears 61on the opposite ends thereof. The polygonal bore' 60 is for: the passage of thepolygonal shaft 55 for operatively "connecting the gears 58 to said shaft foi` actu'- ation thereby. Supportingbrackets 62(s'ee double beveled gears 64" are journaled, said 'i double gears 64 being identical .tothat shown j in Figure 14 of the drawings. One' gear. of each of the double gears 64 is in mesh with one ofthe'gears 61 of theldouble gears 58 and f the other gear of the double gears 64 is in mesh withthe uppermost gear o favertically disposed Ydouble beve'ledgear 65v which-` is ljournaledjforl rotation in arearwardly disposed extension 66 provided onY each of the brackets 62, a suitable 'bearing being pro- "V" vided at" the rear end of each of the extensions 66. It may be well to here ,state that double gears are providedon the polygonal shaft 55 andon the extensionsl66 in order .that-the same Vmay be interchanged lwiththe` gears 64 on the bracket`s62.. A verticallydisposedpolygonal shaft 67 Vextends through'the polygonal bore of the double gears `65- and has its lowerendoperatively connected by universal joint 68 with the upper end ofthe shaft section 38. A1 chain and sprocket con'- -nection 69 operatively connects the polygonal shaft 55 to the axle 8for actuation by said axle.

the drawings'it will be seen that 4a transverse bar 70 Vhas its ends sup-port'edby fbra'ckets 71 on'the longitudinal side members 2-5of the frame l beneath the supportingstructure 13. Arms 72 extend horizontally and rearwardly from the rear side of the bar 70r and' rotatably supports a horizontal shaft 7 3, the

arms 72 having bearings on their free ends in whichl the shaft. 73l is journaled. Hangers v74 aremounted for vertical ladjustn'ient on the bar 70 adjacent each of the cutting unitsr 47 through the medium of verticalslots 75 which are provided for the passage of bolts or the like 76 which extend forwardly'from the forward side of the bar 7 0 and have nuts 77 threaded 4thereon for securingthe hangers 74 in adjustedposition. A horizontally disposed longitudinally extending1sleeve'7 8 extendsthrough the flower portion of each of the `hangers 474 and journaled'therein isa forwardly extendin'gshaft 79' upon the' for wardly extending portion of .which a reel 80 is fixed. A beveled gear/81 is fixed on the rear end portionof each of the shafts 79. A

bracket 82 extends rearwardly from av lower 5v5- portion ofeach` of the hangersf74and rotatablysuppor'ts' avertically disposed shaft 4section 83 having a lbeveled gear 84 fixed on its y lower end portionin mesh with the gearr8l of theadjacent shaft 79. Each of the, shaft e sections. 83 is provided with a polygonal b ore for the reception of thepolygonal lower end portion of the shaft sections 85 in a manner to provide a sliding; connection, the shaft sec- Referring now to Figures 1,3, 4"andffof` tions 85. being 1015243531577Supported .in the il" brackets 86 Z which lextend rearwardly from .the bar 7 0.'l Beveled gears l87 'are yfixedon the the'gears-81 ina manner to rotate two of the .reels `80 in aclockwise direction, as indicated by the Yarrowsin1 Figure 3Y of Vthe drawings V'and the other 'gear Slisengaged "by" its re- 4spective gear '84 ini a ymanner to-drive 'the otherof the reels 80 in a counter-clockwise direction. A- .chain and. sprocket-connection lus A8.9operatively connectsv the shaft73 to the polygonal shaft 5,5" for actuation. The yportions3 ofthe frame 1 chine extend rearwardly and upwardlyj and terminate in Yspaced opposed arcuate end portions 91 which are secured-'to the lopposite sides of the lower portions of a verticallyk disposed cylinder .92 which constitute anfessentialelement of ashocker which is designated` generally vby the Areferencenumeral 93. At itsrupperend the cylinder 92 has formed integrally Athereon 'a flared .mouth or vfunnel -94and "mounted .for :horizontal 'longitudinal YSliding movement in the upper landA `lower end` portions of thecylinder 92are the slide plates 95 and 96, respectively. Braces 97 have their forward end portions secured to the longitudinal side portions 2 of the frame 1 -andhave intermediate portions secured to oppositevsides of an intermediate portion of the c linder 92, said braces 97 extending rearwarc ly of the ,cylinder 92 in converging relation toeach other and kpivotally supporting between their rear end portions a rocker arm 98. having its ends operatively connected to therear ends ofthe slide plates 95 andy 96'by suitable Vpin and slot f connections 99. A vbracket 100 extends rearwardly from one of the portions 3 of the frame'1 and-pivotally supports .-a lever 101 which has one end operatively connected Ytothe rocketv arm' 98 by an angular link 102. The bracket 100 is connected to the leverA 101 at an .intermediate portion of said lever. A rod 103 operatively connects the other end ofthe lever 101 with a hand lever 104 which is mounted for swinging-movement onfthe platforml 23 and which is provided with latehing means engageable withA a `toothed Isegment 105 for releasably retaining .the lever 104 in swinging movement.` lt will thus beseen that, upon actuation of the lever y104,'the slide Vplates 95 and 96 maybe valternately shifted to operative and inoperative position. The shaft 20 supports the upper end-s of a pair of lower conveyors or elevators 106 and 'also constitutes means for actuating said conveyors orelevators. The conveyors 106 eXtend forwardly and downwardly from the shaft 20 between the lcutting `units 47 and lhave mounted on" their llower ends the pans 107 which are disposed substantially. in transverseualignment of the mawith thefree'lsS;` rlheupperendsf of the conveyors 106 are disposed above the lower portions of a main conveyor or elevator 108 which'is `driven by the shaft 2,0 through the f medium of a suitable -chain and `sprocket connectionV 109.1."An intermediate support 110 is providedv for the'main conveyor 108 and the-upper end of saidlm'ai'n conveyor 108 is disposed above the mouth or funnel 94"'on the cylinder l92. Suitable brackets`111 may be provided for rsecuring the lower end,of the main conveyor 108 to upper portions of .the

conveyors 106 (see Figure 20).y

As seen in Figure' 19 of the drawings, the

conveyor `19 comprises a panel'112 disposed between the longitudinal, vertioallydisposed vside vwalls 113. Endless chains 114 travel between Athe side walls 113 over suitable sprock- V ets at the ends of the conveyor andhaving secured thereto atspa-ced points, transverse scraper blades 115 whichl engage the 'upper surface of the plate 112 whentraveling from the lowerto the upper'end v of the conveyor for carryingany matterv which may ibe deposited on the conveyor fromthe conveyors counter-clockwise directions, 'respectively,

will throw the cut bean stalks on one ofthe pans 107 to be carried upwar'dly'by the rcorresponding conveyor 106 and theother of the reels 80 which'is rotated in ra clockwise vdirecforwa-rdly tionwill throw'the cut stalks onthejother of Y the pans 107 to be carried upwardly by.: the other of the conveyors 106. Fromthe conveyors 106, as will be apparent, the stalks are dropped on to the main conveyor 108 andare carried upwardly and deposited in the flared mouth or `funnel 94 `ofr the cylinder 92. The slide'pla'te 95 is normally disposed in `open position to permit the cylinder 92 to be filled, the slide plate 96,of course, being closed at thisti'me to vclosefth/e lower end ofthe cylinder 92. Vhen the cylinder 92 has been filled, the lever 104 on the platform 23 is actuated to move th-eslidev plate 95 inwardly toclose the top of the cylinder 92 and simultaneously move the slide plate 96 outwardly to open the f f' bottom of the cylinder 92 and thus` deposit lthe shock.` When the upper end of the cylinder92 closed by the slide plate 95,3the stalks are deposited i-n the flared mouth orI funnel 94 from the main conveyor 108.' Asgbefore 'stat- Y edf,.the cutting units 47 may be elevated or adjusted independently by levers 29. or simultaneously through the medium of the lever 52.

It is believed that the many advantages, of a machine made in accordance with this invention will be `readily understood, and alvthough the preferred embodiment of the in- Y vention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may behad which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is l. A harvesting machine comprising a frame, an axle journaled in the frame, supporting wheels mounted on the axle and operatively connected thereto for drivingV said axle, a shaft journaled transversely in the frame, means operatively connecting the shaft to the axle for actuation thereby, a plurality of cutting units mounted for swinging adjustment in a vertical plane on the shaft, inclined conveyors operatively connected with the shaft for actuation thereby, said conveyors extending between the cutting units, means operatively connecting the A cuttingunits to the axle for actuation by said axle, reels rotatably mounted forwardly of the Vcutting units and adapted to throw the cut plants laterally on to the conveyors, and means operatively connecting the reels to the axle for actuation by said axle.

2. A harvesting machine comprising -a frame, an axle journaled in the frame, supporting wheels mounted on the axle and operatively connected thereto for driving said axle, a shaft journaled transversely in the frame, means operatively connecting the shaft to the axle for actuation thereby, a plurality of cutting units mounted for swinging adjustment in a vertical plane on the shaft, inclined conveyors operatively connected with the shaft for actuating thereby, said conveyors extending between the cutting units, means operatively connecting the cutting units to the' axle for Vactuationloy said axle, reels rotatably mounted forwardly of the cutting units and adapted to throw the cut plants laterally on to the conveyors, means operatively connecting the reels to the axle for actuation by said axle, a platform mounted transversely on the frame, andv means for adjusting the cutting units vertically relative to the ground, the last named means comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the frame, a substantially U-shaped hanger pivotally suspended from the free end portions of the arms and extending transversely beneath the cutting units, said hanger supporting the forward portions of the cutting units, a crank journaled transversely in the frame and extending beneath the arms, saidV crank constituting supporting means for the for-l ward portions of the arms, and an actuating lever fixed to the crank.

3. A harvesting machine comprising a frame,an axle journaled inthe fram'eysup-i porting `wheels mounted onthe; axlewand operatively connected thereto for driving saidax1e,a ishaftjournaled transversely-,n the frame, means operatively., connectingwthe shaft Yto theV axleforactuation thereby," a

plurality of cuttingunits mounted for swinglng adjustment `-in a vertical Aplaneon :the

shaft, inclined conveyorsv operativelyconnected with the shaft for. actuation thereby, said lconveyors; extending between the z cut# ting. units, meansoperatively .connectingT the cutting units to the axle foractuation by said axle, `reels rotatably mounted forwardly lof the cutting units and1 adaptedto.throw'f` the means operatively? connecting; thefreels to; the axle for actuation 'by' said .axle',a "shockerV mounted ononerend portion. of-.the frame, an `inclined lconveyor having oneendportion v' cut plantsvlaterally 'on-:to theconveyors,l l

disposed beneath .-the first named` conveyors l` and its other -e'ndxdisposed ,above the shocl'rer'` ina manner` to receivematerial from the first= named conveyors and discharge said material into the shocker, andrmeansoperatively con-: necting the secondVV named conveyorfto theshaft for actuation by saidy shaft. f 2

4.' A fharvesting `:inachineil comprising l aY frame, an axle journaled transversely in the frame, supporting wheels mounted onthe axle and operatively connected 'theretoV for driving said axle, a shaftrjou'rnaled transversely inthe frame, means operatively'connecting the shaft with the axle for actuation thereby, a plurality of cutting units mounted for swingingt adjustment in a vertical plane on the sha ,each cuttingunit comprising a pair` of arms pivotally mounted'on the shaft, a plate rigidly secured tothe free end portions of the arms, a finger plate rigidly mounted on one end portion of the first named plate, a bracket mountedon the first named plate and extending upwardly therefroml, a bearing on the freeend portion of the bracket, a casting ournaled in the bearing and having a polygonal bore extending-vertically therethroughan annular toothed Vcutter fixed on the lower side of the casting and engaged on the first named plate, said cutter coacting with the Vfingers on the second named plate toV necting the shaft with the axle for actuation thereby, a plurality of cutting units mounted for swinging adjustment in a vertical plane on the shaft, each cutting unit comprising av paix-.10i arms pivotallyzmountedlon the shaft, a;p1ate rigidlysecured to Ythe free -end vportions :ofi the -arms,fallinger plate/rigidly mounted on. one `end portion of the rst named" platefafbrapket mounted on the rst named plate and .extendngzupwardly therefrom, a

bearing on the free end portion of the bracket, a .eastingejonrnaled .in the `bearing and havingzpa polygonal bore extending-vertically 10' therethrough, anannular toothed .cutterxed on :the lower sideof the castingancl engaged on the; first named plate,"-said cutter coaotingv with thef'mgerson the .second namedplate to out plantsyla polygonal shaft extending into the,l bore ,int Lthe .casting for2 actuating said Vcasting,@means operatively connecting the polygonal :shaft-to `the axlefor: actuationy by said. axle, a l platform. mounted transversely on the framefbell Crank leversmounted for f manualactuation-'on'the platform, rods'loosely, `connectedf.-toA .the first .named plates, yandV Y links*operatively-'connecting therrods to the bellcrank levers, said Arods,'.links and-v bell" crankv levers consti.tutI-lgl means for vadj usting f the; cutting@Y units '.independently relative to the: ground. -r n Y In testimony` whereof I affixI my signature.-

I ILLIALM4 FRED 5 LONBECK- 

